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Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

New shopping center serves growing part of Houston County

WARNER ROBINS — Growth and demographics are key factors given among business owners to open up at The Shoppes at Houston Lake at the intersection of South Houston Lake Road and Ga. 96.

Glynn Jenkins, Kroger’s director of community and public relations, said a growing Warner Robins population, especially along the Ga. 96 corridor, coupled with ideal demographics, led to the opening of a new 90,000-square-foot Kroger at the center.

The store, which celebrated its grand opening Sept. 29, is the anchor for the 22-acre site. About 15,000 to 17,000 customers a week are projected by Kroger to shop at the new store that created about 150 new jobs for the area.

The store features expanded product lines and amenities, including a fuel center, drive-through pharmacy and floral shop.

A new Chick-fil-A also is going up at the center, one of three out-parcels available for development at the site.

Aimee Lashley, Chick-fil-A area marketing director, noted that Ga. 96 and Houston Lake Road is a high growth area for Houston County and met the demographic profile sought for the company’s new restaurant locations. The new store will be the fourth Chick-fil-A to locate in Houston County, she said.

“It was a good match for us,” Lashley said. The new restaurant is expected to open in mid- to late January, she said.

The growth in Warner Robins, especially in this area, was a key factor for ASP Pool & Spa, which plans to open a retail store at the center in March, said Tom Swift, co-owner of the Macon-based company that has 34 locations in four states. ASP Pool & Spa offers full-services for cleaning, maintenance and repair of residential and commercial pools.

“We’re absolutely pumped at opening this new store in Warner Robins,” Swift said.

A Chick-fi-A locating in the center was also a factor, he said.

“Everyone knows a Chick-fil-A going in indicates it’s a pretty good spot,” he said.

Chris Le, who is opening LA Nails Spa at the center in the spring, said he chose the location for what will become his second shop in Warner Robins “because the area is growing and I see potential in that market.”

The nail spa will feature nail technicians and a massage therapist, he said.

Megan Cai and her husband, Li, plan to open Love Your Clothes in the center. The couple is relocating their 17-year-old drying cleaning business after a lease dispute.

The business is expected to open in March, with the other store now closed, which gives the couple a chance for a vacation, Megan Cai added.

She said she and her husband have not taken a vacation and even missed their honeymoon for their business, she said.

While services such as nails and dry cleaning are the types of services to be reduced in tough economic times, both Le and Cai expect the economy to rebound. Each has held its own despite declines in business from the economy, the owners said.

Johnny and Brenda Page, owners of Great Clips for Hair, are moving across Ga. 96 from the shopping center across the street. The couple owns seven hair salons in Middle Georgia.

“It’s better visibility and better location,” said Page. Also, the couple had been considering renovating the existing shop but the idea of a brand new store proved a better fit, he said.

George Eichler of the Ramsbottom Co. said two other phases of development are planned for the site in addition to what’s already coming in. He said negotiations are under way with sit-down restaurants and other shops.

“It’s clearly just the growth area of Warner Robins,” Eichler said.